HYDERABAD: The Sindhi Adabi Sangat (SAS) on Sunday organised province-wide rallies in protest over a recent statement of Governor Imran Ismail in which he talked about a division of Sindh by creating new provinces.

In Hyderabad, political activists, writers and intellectuals gathered at the Old Campus Chowk to march towards the press club. They were shouting ‘go governor go’ slogans and demanded his immediate removal.

SAS general secretary Ahmed Solangi led the rally in which leaders and activists of the Women Act­ion Forum, Youth Action Comm­ittee, Sindhi Aurat Tanzeem, Sindh Sujaagi Forum, Sindhiyani Tehreek and Sindh Sufi Sangat also participated.

The protesters said that those talking about division of Sindh lived in the fool’s paradise.

They said that the Urdu-speaking population, which is permanently living in Sindh, was part of the province but some elements having imperialist mindset wanted to create an ethnic conflict between Sindhi- and Urdu-speaking community to do away with the province’s historical identity.

They reminded such elements that the people of Sindh would foil their conspiracies.

The protesters also demanded registration of a treason case against the governor and added that if the federal government did not take any step in this regard they would be justified to think that it was also part of the conspiracy.

SHIKARPUR: SAS activists and members of the civil society gathered in Shikarpur city to take OUT a rally against Governor Ismail’s statement.

Holding placards and banners in their hands, they staged a demonstration in front of the local press club in protest against the idea of Sindh’s division.

The rally began from the Jagan Nath Library and culminated at the press club via Jahaz Chowk and Jumani Hall Chowk.

The participants were raising slogans against the governor, who is a nominee of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and demanded his removal from the constitutional office.

Strongly condemning the governor’s remarks, the protesters also called upon the Sindh government and assembly to get him removed through a resolution for his “anti-Sindh activities” and for working to divide the province.

Speaking at the rally, SAS leaders said that Sindh was their motherland and no one would be allowed to talk for its division.

SANGHAR: A number of poets, writers and journalists held a protest demonstration organised by the local chapter of the SAS outside the Sanghar Press Club.

Speaking to the protesters, SAS leaders said that Sindh had existed for thousands of years and they would not tolerate any attempt to divide it.

They also condemned the governor’s statement and demanded his removal from office.

They said the SAS was united and would fight against any conspiracy to divide their homeland.

Protest against ‘illegal’ marriage

MIRPURKHAS: The SAS organised a demonstration outside the local press club on Sunday in protest against what it believe “illegal marriage” of a 13-year-old girl (a resident of Jhuddo town) with an elderly man.

Led by Wajid Leghari, the protesters raised slogans against the marriage and urged the Sindh chief minister and inspector general of police to take immediate notice of the wedlock and order an inquiry against those involved in it.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2019